Best Memory Cards for Nikon Z5

Searching for the best memory cards for Nikon Z5? Here is the guide for you to get the top recommended & fastest SD cards for Nikon Z5 full frame mirrorless camera.

The Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&HAdorama) is a full-frame mirrorless camera basic model that inherits the superior power of expression and reliability of the Nikon Z7 and Z6, while also balancing high cost performance. Its 24.3MP CMOS sensor and EXPEED 6 processor afford wide sensitivity to ISO 51200, quick shooting at 4.5 fps, and UHD 4K video at 30 fps. In addition to its high performance, the Z 5 is equipped with various functions, including in-camera vibration reduction (VR) that provides camera-shake compensation equivalent to a 5.0-stop*3 increase in shutter speed, a hybrid AF system with 273*4 focus points covering a broad area of the frame, and Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF*5 that are convenient for capturing portraits of human subjects, and dogs or cats. A high-resolution 3.6m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder allows for high-res eye-level viewing while a rear 3.2″ 1.04m-dot tilting touchscreen LCD accommodates working from high and low angles. The Z5 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and can easily share files with mobile devices using the SnapBridge app.

The Nikon Z5 has dual SD memory cards slots that both support UHS-II SD cards. If you want to shoot 4K video with the Nikon Z5, a fast UHS-II SD memory card is a must, or you will have to wait longer for the buffer to clear and before you can start taking photos again. So, buying a fast card is always worth it: Fast write speed provides fast buffer clearing time between burst shots optimizing your shooting experience.

Below are our top recommended & fastest SD cards for Nikon Z5 mirrorless camera based on the speed and price. If you want to get the absolute most out of the Nikon Z5 camera, we suggest picking up a couple of UHS-II SD cards from the list below.

Recommended SD Memory Cards for Nikon Z5

If you just want to cut to the chase, here are our top 6 recommended SD cards for Nikon Z5:

  1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)
  2. Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)
  3. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card (300 MB/s)
  4. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II Card (250 MB/s, V60)
  5. Sony SF-E Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (270 MB/s, V60)
  6. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II SD Card (300 MB/s)

Best SD Memory Cards for Nikon Z5

1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)

    • UHS-II / V90 / U3 / Class 10
    • Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 299 MB/s

The Fastest UHS-II SD Card, highly recommendedBoasting an ultra-fast maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 299 MB/s, the Sony SF-G Tough Series UHS-II Memory Card is currently the world’s fastest SD memory cards and it is well-suited for 4K and Full HD video reacording and super fast continuous shooting. Thanks to its V90 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 90 MB/s. So, if you are seeking the highest write speed with a V90 rating as well as extremely high 250-300MB/s read speeds for transferring photos from the card to a computer, this is the recommended cards for you.

Buy Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SDXC Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

2. Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)

    • UHS-II / V90 / U3 / Class 10
    • Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 260 MB/s

Highly recommended and Best Value! With maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 260 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II card offers the super fast speeds for both writing and reading files, and you can get a free Lexar SD UHS-II Reader for high-speed file transfer from card to computer, dramatically accelerating workflow. Thanks to its V90 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 90 MB/s. It’s the perfect match for any UHS-II compatible camera that records 4K and Full HD video or has a fast 8fps+ continuous shooting speed. The buffer clearing time will be much much quicker which means you can take more shots.

Buy Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

3. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card (300 MB/s)

    • UHS-II / U3 / Class 10
    • Max. Read Speed: 300 MB/s
  • Max. Write Speed: 260 MB/s

Incredibly Fast SD Card. Designed for professional photographers and videographers, the SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards can achieve maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 260 MB/s. Fast and fantastic! Ideal for continuous shutter bursts and rapid shooting, as well as 4K video recording. Thanks to its U3 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 30 MB/s.

Buy SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

4. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card (250 MB/s, V60)

    • UHS-II / V60 / U3 / Class 10
    • Max Read Speed: 250 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s

Affordable UHS-II card with excellent performanceAlthough the Nikon Z5 can’t take advantage of those extra write speeds with the UHS-II cards, the UHS-II card can work in the Nikon Z5 at the fastest write speeds of UHS-I card. So, if you are seeking the ultra high read speeds to transfer your images and videos much quicker, a fast UHS-II card will be the first choice. With maximum read speeds of up to 250 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 90 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II card is great for fast burst shooting and 4K & full HD video recording! This card offers excellent performance with a similar price of UHS-I cards. Great value!

Buy Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card at AmazonB&HAdorama.

5. Sony SF-E Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (270 MB/s, V60)

    • UHS-II / V60 / U3 / Class 10
    • Max Read Speed: 270 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 120 MB/s

Well-suited for 4K, 3D, HFR, and Full HD video recording, as well as continuous shutter bursts and rapid shooting, the Sony SF-E Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Card can achieve maximum read speeds of up to 270 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 120 MB/s. Thanks to its V60 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 60 MB/s. However, bear in mind that this card will then default to your device’s speed class and bus rating. That means you need to get a UHS-II SD card reader to reach the read speeds of up to 270 MB/s to quickly transfer large media files to your computer. Spend less time waiting and more time doing.

Buy Sony SF-E Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (270 MB/s, V60) at AmazonB&HAdorama.

Buy Sony UHS-II SD Memory Card Reader at AmazonB&HAdorama.

6. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II SD Card (300 MB/s)

    • UHS-II / U3 / Class 10
    • Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 260 MB/s

Hoodman Steel is a ruggedized, steel plated SDXC card designed to withstand the rigors of high performance photography/videography. With a ruggedized steel construction, the Hoodman Steel 2000x SDXC UHS-II Memory Card supports 4K Ultra HD video and features a read speed of up to 300 MB/s and a write speed of up to 260 MB/s making it easy to transfer large files quickly and efficiently. Another great choice!

Buy Hoodman Steel 2000x SDXC UHS-II Memory Card at AmazonB&HAdorama.